News

MPs demand public vote on gay marriage

Gay weddings, such as that of US chat-show host Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi, anger some Tory MPs (Lara Porzak Photography/WENN)

DISGRUNTLED Tory MPs are demanding a national referendum to allow the public to vote on gay marriage.

The MPs are preparing to torpedo a bill to legitimise gay weddings with a raft of amendments, including measures to protect churches, schools and people who disagree with the proposals. Up to 150 MPs are expected to support the call for a referendum.

The rebels have been emboldened by UKIP’s surge in support in the council elections, which they attribute in part to opposition among Tory voters to the gay-marriage bill.

The amendments include measures to allow town-hall registrars to opt out if they have strong religious or principled objections to same-sex marriage.

They would also give religious schools and teachers with a strong personal objection the right to refuse to teach the topic.

Senior Whitehall sources say the government, confronted by the demands for greater protection for registrars who object to gay